Rail-joint



Patented January 19, 1904.

UNITED STATES 4PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK DODSON, 'ALLEGHENK PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 750,100, dated January19, 1904.

Application filed October 10, 1903. Serial No. 176,550. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK DoDsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints,of which the fol lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in rail-joints; andits object is to provide simple and inexpensive means for fas-A teningrails together and for supporting the ends thereof, so as to preventpounding by car-wheels passing thereover.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists inproviding fish-plates, one of which has a projection on one face whichis adapted to nt within the recesses formed in the ends of the rails.Bolts or other fastening means are employed for binding the sh plates toopposite sides of the webs of the rails, and means are also employed forpreventing longitudinal movement of the fish-plates in relation to therails.

vThe invention also lconsists in the further novelconstructionvandcombination of parts, hereinafter more fully describedand claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a perspective view of two rails connected by means of myimproved railjoint. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof with one of thefish-plates removed. Fig. 3 is an elevation of one end of a rail. Fig. 4is a section on line 4 4;, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5, Fig.2; and Fig. 6 'is a detailed view of one of the fish-plates.

Referringto the gures by numerals of reference, 1 1 are rails, the webs2 of which are provided with recesses 3 in their ends, and theserecesses are adapted to receive a block 4: or other extension formedupon one face of a fish-plate 5. This fish-plate is adapted to be ttedagainst one face of the web of each rail and within recesses 6, formedin the baseflanges of the rails. A second {ish-plate 8 is arranged uponthe other sides of the rails and is adapted to be clamped upon the blockAby means of bolts 9, which extend through slots 1ffrnilied in the railsand an aperture inthe said oc r.

rl`he ends of the Vrecesses 6 serve to prevent longitudinal movement ofthe fishplates upon the rails and the block 4: supports the heads 10 ofthe railsand prevents sagging of the ends thereof and the resultantpounding by wheels passing thereover.

It-Will be seen thatthe joint is extremely simple, durable, andinexpensive in construction and not only serves to firmly fasten therails together, but also supports them.

In the foregoing description I have shown 6o the preferred form of myinvention; butI do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware thatmodifications may be made therein without departing from the "spirit orsacrificing any o'f the advantages thereof, and I therefore re- 65 servethe right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of myinvention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I therefore claim as new,and desire to secure' by Letters Patent, is-Y l. In a rail-joint thecombination with rails having recesses in the ends thereof and recessesin the base-flanges of the rails; of shplates upon the base-anges and intherecesses, a projection upon one of the fish-plates 7 5 seated withinthe end recesses, and 'means for vbinding the plates upon the rails.

2. In a rail-joint the combination with rails Y having registeringrecesses in their ends and recesses in the base-flanges of the rails; ofish- 8O plates upon opposite sides ofy the rails, a projection upon oneof the plates snugly litted within the end recesses, said plates beingarranged in the flange-recesses, and means for securing the plates tothe rails.

3. In a rail-joint the combination with rails having registeringrecesses in their ends, and recesses in the base-anges of the rails; offishplates upon the base-anges and in their recesses, a projection onone of the iish-plates 90 snugly seated within the end recesses andbolts extending through the plates and rails for securing them together.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.v

FRANK DGDSON.

Witnesses: y

VILLIAM MCVEIGH, WV. L. GARDNER.

